Chapter Sixty-Nine
Safe Space
Is it over yet
Can I open my eyes
Is this as hard as it gets
Is this what it feels like to really cry
(Cry - Kelly Clarkson)June 27th, 1977Dorea Potter stubbornly proved the Healers wrong by lasting the night and the
entire day that followed. She took her final breath just as the sun set against the London
skyline, surrounded by her husband and a multitude of children she claimed as her own.
The family was given a long while to sit in silence and say their goodbyes if they wanted,
but eventually, Healers came in to speak with Charlus about what would need to happen
next.
Sirius led everyone else up to the roof, parting with the last few cigarettes he had.
They all took one, save for Lily, who claimed to have had her fill. Instead, she linked arms
with Mia and Sirius. Remus stood on Mia's other side with his arm around her waist, a
smoke in his free hand. To Sirius's left stood James, staring out at the lights of the city as
he took the cigarette between his lips. Peter stood next to James, a hand on his friend's
shoulder, the cigarette between his fingers slowly burning out.
They all stared off silently into the distance.
Slowly, Lily separated from the group, and Sirius and Mia immediately closed the
gap that her absence created. Remus kissed Mia's temple and pulled away, flicking his
cigarette over the edge of the building before quietly urging Peter away as well to leave
James, Sirius, and Mia—Dorea's children—to grieve together in this one moment.
While Peter left to use the loo, Remus followed Lily down the stairs. Eventually
finding his way back toward Dorea's room. He turned the corner and saw Lily and Charlus
standing outside. Remus realised in that moment how much Charlus looked like his own
father the day before. But Charlus Potter looked strangely calm. Sad and broken, but not
angry or vengeful. He just looked... lost.